Scott Hanselman

browse by category or date

Network Connections: Using Verizon Broadband Access Wireless Internet without VZAccess Manager

April 18, 2007 Comment on this post [4] Posted in Musings | Tools
Sponsored By

I was talking to Juval Löwy today about wireless broadband access. We both use Verizon's VZAccess Rev0 network for Nationwide Wireless Broadband. I get decent results and have blogged about the service before, last year.

UPDATE: Some folks have reported that the Username and Password aren't needed. Some have reported it IS needed. Your Mileage May Vary.

One thing that irritates me and Juval is the VZAccess Manager application that Verizon provides to access the service. Fortunately , Juval figured out how to connect to Verizon's Wireless Broadband using Network Connections in Vista bypassing the VZAccess Manager. As Juval doesn't have a blog, I'm posting his instructions here with his blessing.

First, you need to manually create a new connection.

  1. Open VZAccess Manager, go to Help, about.
  2. Copy the phone number:

  1. In the Windows Control Panel, bring up the Network and Sharing Center.
  2. Click Set up a Connection or Network.

 

  1. Click Set up a dial-up connection

  1. Select the modem:

 

  1. Enter #777 for the number. For user name, plug your number from Step 2  plus "@vzw3com.com." For password use "vzw" (all lower case). Be sure to name the connection.

  1. Connect and run. Select public location for network type you are all set.

You can now use the connection without VZA.

Thanks Juval!

About Scott

Scott Hanselman is a former professor, former Chief Architect in finance, now speaker, consultant, father, diabetic, and Microsoft employee. He is a failed stand-up comic, a cornrower, and a book author.

facebook twitter subscribe
About   Newsletter
Hosting By
Hosted in an Azure App Service
Comment on this post [4]
Share on Twitter or Facebook or use the
April 19, 2007 0:10
I have the same card and I hated having to use the Verizon software with the MacBook Pro and OS X, but thankfully all the software is built in to OS X 10.4 you don't have to go through the above magic tricks to just use the cards. My blog post on this is pretty short:
http://www.innerexception.com/2007/01/tip-using-verizon-v640-expresscard-with.html

I am far from the first person to "discover" how to get this done without VZAccess on OS X though.
Dave Murdock
April 19, 2007 2:00
Scott - Question (or oversight): Are you required to checkbox the "Remember this password", as it will obviously work the first time around? Does it work the second time with out it (and/or does it prompt). If it doesn't prompt, there's no password, right? That I thought was the best way to determine your proviso at the top...

Mark
Mark Deason
April 19, 2007 3:21
Scott- Great tip for people. This can also be done in order to tether Win Mobile phones such as the Motorola Q etc. For those with the $45 unlimited EV-DO plan on their cell, it is a great way to consolidate and not pay for an entire other plan. There is also the PDANet software that essentially does what you have written in order to tether phones as dial-up modems.

Ben
benb
April 19, 2007 17:01
Scott,

Stupid Question: I didn't get wireless broadband access with my Verizon service, so I don't know. But: does Verizon authenticate you after you connect with the "vzw" password for the network? I hope so; I'd hate to think anybody could get into anybody else's account just by knowing their Verizon phone number...

Thanks,
John
John Dunagan

Comments are closed.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent my employer's view in any way.